Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has directed the conversion of all ad-hoc staff in the state’s 33 local government areas to permanent employees within four weeks.
This directive was issued during the official commissioning of the newly-built Local Government House and Staff Training School in Ibadan on Wednesday.
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The governor emphasized that the conversion process must follow due procedure and was aimed at addressing workforce shortages at the local government level.
Governor Makinde highlighted the importance of collaboration between state and local governments, stressing that synergy would enhance the implementation of his administration’s vision across all levels.
He further reiterated his commitment to supporting local governments for the benefit of citizens.
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Reflecting on the state of the local government system when he took office in 2019, Makinde noted that many local councils were struggling with unpaid salaries, pensions, and gratuities.
He shared that his administration had since paid backlogs, including over N18 billion in pensions and more than N15 billion in gratuities, while also settling the leave bonuses of primary school teachers from 2017 to 2023.
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The governor also emphasized the strides made in upgrading 209 and equipping 264 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state, in collaboration with local governments, alongside completing 60 model schools and renovating hundreds of primary school classrooms under the Oyo State SUBEB intervention project.
Makinde noted that the first phase of road construction projects, including 40 kilometers in Ibadan, was completed in July, with 60 kilometers remaining.
He assured that subsequent projects would extend to other regions of the state.
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The newly commissioned Local Government House and Staff Training School, described as a “monumental achievement” by the Commissioner for Land, Housings, and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, aims to create a more conducive working environment for local government staff and improve productivity.
Governor Makinde also pledged to renovate and upgrade facilities within the State Secretariat before the end of his administration in 2027.
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Representatives from the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the University of Ibadan Ventures, which handled the project, praised the governor for his leadership and commitment to improving the welfare of local government workers.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, lauded the new facilities as historic and urged staff to maintain them diligently.
